£1m US contract boost for firm

Offshore engineering firm Claxton Engineering Services has success-fully completed its first North American contract.

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The Great Yarmouth-based firm supplied riser systems to North American natural gas producer EnCana Corporation to support drilling in the Deep Panuke field 175km off Nova Scotia, Canada.

The project – worth in excess of £1m – was completed without problems or lost-time incidents over more than 400 days.

The riser system, from Claxton’s rapid call-off rental inventory, was used to drill and complete one new well and re-enter and complete four suspended wells in about 44 metres of water from the Rowan Gorilla III jack-up rig.

The company also provided the personnel to run the system.

Dannie Claxton, technical director, said: “Claxton has been supplying riser systems for 20 years now, and the experience we have built up during that time is something that we believe sets us apart from the competition.

“Claxton provided the system for over 400 days, and the riser was run on five wells with no problems or lost-time incidents. We were naturally delighted to win this project, and to have it end so successfully is a great endorsement for our team.”

Claxton reported turnover of £33m in 2009 and employs about 100 people, mostly at Yarmouth, including five currently in Dubai.

The company is part of Norwich-based oil and gas services group Acteon, which has grown to become one of East Anglia’s largest firms, with turnover of £287.9m last year and about 1,800 staff.

Sister Acteon company 2H Offshore also provided riser analysis for the work with EnCana Corporation.

In July, Claxton confirmed it was set for further expansion in the Middle East after increasing its rental business. Additional equipment, used in pre-drilling, installation and maintenance in offshore oil and gas fields, was transported from the UK to Dubai, along with subsea and inspection cameras offered for hire from the base.